Jamaican Drumming — The Evolution of A Style
When Jamaica gained independence in 1962, its musicians reacted by inventing a rhythm style so unique and addictive, it helped an entire population find its voice. As the music evolved, so did its drumming. But the elemental Jamaican pulse remains…
Lloyd Knibb: Ska Pioneer
In the early 1960s, when Jamaica was liberated from British rule, the island’s musicians were tasting musical freedom, experimenting with and synthesizing a number of diverse influences from their native Caribbean, the Americas, and Africa to create a new style…
Sly Dunbar
He possesses one of the most expansive, eclectic, and revered résumés in reggae history. And he’s still hitting it hard. In the ’70s and ’80s, Lowell “Sly” Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare, aka the Riddim Twins, did as much to…
Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace
“Horsemouth is reggae,” said the Greek filmmaker Ted Bafaloukos, the director of the 1978 film Rockers, one of the first successful movies to focus on the culture surrounding Jamaican music. Along with its predecessor, 1972’s The Harder They Come, Rockers…
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News
Keep up to date with the drum world via news items, interviews, lists, and more
Ohana Festival
Eddie Vedder’s Ohana Festival in Dana Point, CA celebrated its 10th anniversary. Over the years artists such as Lana Del Rey, Sting, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, The Pretenders, Kings of Leon, Stevie Nicks. P!NK, Jack Johnson, Elvis Costello,…
Modern Drummer Announces Celeste Fox as the 2026 Winner of the Neil Peart Spirit of Drumming Scholarship
Modern Drummer magazine, alongside Universal Music Enterprises (UMe), Carrie Peart (Trustee of The Estate of Neil Peart), and Olivia Peart, is proud to announce Celeste Fox as the recipient of the 2026 Neil Peart Spirit of Drumming Scholarship. Established to…
Shane Hawkins Performs Taylor Hawkins’ Real Favorite Foo Fighters Song to Play: Watch
At a drum clinic in England, Shane Hawkins, the son of late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, revealed that his dad’s favorite Foos song to play was actually the track “Low,” not the tune “Aurora,” as commonly suggested. Shane took…
Drummer Nic Collins (Phil Collins’ Son) Learns and Performs RUSH’s Epic “2112” Suite in One Sitting: Watch
The folks at Drumeo are putting Nic Collins through the wringer. First, they challenged him to play Opeth’s mammoth “Ghost of Perdition” as he heard it for the first time, and now they’ve made him learn and play RUSH’s absolutely…
Tour Kit Rundowns
Your favorite drummers walk you through every detail of their drum setups.
Metal Sticks
Dedicated to interviewing iconic artists, educating drummers of all styles and genres, amplifying young talent, and showcasing Nicko McBrain’s archive of iconic gear & memorabilia, Metal Sticks aims to inspire all generations of heavy metal fans.
Gear
Detailed assessments of the latest drum kits and accessories
Gretsch Drums and Memorabilia from the Northup Drums Museum
“That great Gretsch sound” is an iconic saying that sums up one of the greatest and oldest drum companies in America. In 1883, German immigrant Friedrich Gretsch opened a small musical instrument shop in Brooklyn, NY making banjos, tambourines,…
MEINL ANIKA NILLES LUNAR RIDE AND HATS, TAMA ANIKA NILLES SIGNATURE SNARE, SABIAN RAY LUZIER MANTARAY
Meinl Introduces New Anika Nilles Lunar Ride and Hats Meinl Cymbals has expanded its collaboration with Anika Nilles with the introduction of the new Lunar Ride and Lunar Hats, adding two new signature sounds to the drummer’s setup. The release…
Alesis Strike Max Electronic Drum Kit
Alesis’s Nitro has long occupied the entry-level side of its electronic drum lineup, and the Nitro Max updated that formula with mesh heads throughout and Bluetooth. The Strike Max is the newest kit in that general range, but it arrives…
DW Collector’s Series Vavona Exotic SonicPly Snare Drum: Maple and Aluminum, the Best of Both Worlds!
A Guitar Center Exclusive, this beautiful Drum Workshop (DW) SonicPly Vavona snare drum was sent to Modern Drummer to take a good look at, and to see what is an exciting hybrid shell combination. This drum brings the best of…
The Terry Bozzio Collection
When Covid hit, most of the world came to a screeching halt. For Terry Bozzio, it ultimately led him to the decision to retire from touring. After enjoying levels musical and artistic success that few drummers could even dream of,…
ALESIS® DRUMS AND ZILDJIAN® FORGE HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LEGACY AND INNOVATION
Zildjian and Alesis to Shape the Future of Electronic Percussion Avedis Zildjian Co. and Alesis Drums have announced a strategic partnership uniting the most iconic name in cymbal sound with a modern pioneer of percussion technology. Together, the partnership brings…
Kit of the Month
All Fired Up: Ken Mondillo’s Salute to Myron Grombacher
This month’s Kit of the Month comes to us from Ken Mondillo of Philadelphia, PA. This is his replica Pat Benatar / Myron Grombacher, Japanese drum set. Many of us saw that iconic…
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Hall of Fame
A look back at the legendary drummers elected to Modern Drummer’s Hall of Fame
Keith Moon Elected to Hall of Fame in 1982
Excerpted from the September 2003 issue In his last interview, published posthumously in October 1978, Keith told International Musician and Recording World, “You can’t work out things too much. We do certain build-ups and things, but you can run into…
John Bonham Elected to Hall of Fame in 1981
Excerpted from the John Bonham tribute issue, July 1984 John Bonham played, for the most part, a very simple drumkit, consisting of a 14x26 bass drum, a 12x15 small tom—at first mounted on a snare stand and later on the…
Buddy Rich Elected to Hall of Fame in 1980
Excerpted from the January 1977 issue When it comes to interviewing Buddy, one must learn to expect the unexpected. You can end up with a first rate story, or no story at all. He’s a very intense human being, with…
Gene Krupa Elected to Hall of Fame in 1979
Excerpted from the October/November 1979 issue “I’m happy that I succeeded in doing two things: I made the drummer a highpriced guy, and I was able to draw more people to jazz.” The above quote of drum master Gene Krupa…
Zendé Murdock - The Runarounds - Tour Kit Rundown
Modern Drummer Official 8.5K views September 1, 2026 2:00 PM